You and your cat have more in common than you think. Have you ever noticed your cat wheezing or clawing at her own fur several times a day? Often times she'll may even pull out balls of fur.
The episodes scare you, but you can never figure out why she's doing it.
Unlike people, who "pull out their hair" because they are stressed, your cat is likely suffering from something else.
Take a quick look around your home. Are the windows open? Are you sneezing and coughing regularly? Do you have red eyes and a runny nose? Did you forget to take your allergy pill today? Ah-hah! That's it.
If your cat is regularly clawing at herself during peak allergy season, there's a good chance she's suffering from allergies. While pets react to allergies differently than humans, they are no less susceptible. The worse the allergy season, the worse their symptoms tend to be.
Cats are just as likely as people to become allergic to trees, pollen, grasses and mold. And again, just like us, they scratch or rub to relieve symptoms, often causing inflammation, redness and dryness.
In the case of cats, all of that scratching may lead to something called feline hyperesthesia syndrome, which will need immediate care by a veterinarian. To prevent your cat from experiencing this again, think about closing all of the windows in your home between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. — peak hours of the day — as well as upgrading your air conditioning unit, dehumidifier or humidifier.
For more allergy relief solutions, visit Allergy Be Gone.
